Loader device



L. D. POTTER AND T. C. NOLAN.

LOADER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY19. 1920..

Patented July 25, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

[/ZUZflZO/" $7 9% L. D. POTTER AND T. C. NOLAN.

LOADER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIQ, 1920.

1 ,42 3,878. Patented July 25, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2. W

I HI i: i;

Mimi? L. D. POTTER AND T. C. NOLAN.

LOADER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIQ, 19,20.

u 6 w wfw m m2 d3 m n JVJ M .y 7 z 6 9 6 wire STATES eArsNr GFFIICE,

LAURENS DAY mam Ann THOMAS CHARLES NOLAN, or EMMETSBUBG, Iowa.

LO ADER DEVICE;

Application filed July 19",

and easily operated, and is of simple, durable and substantially inexpensive construction.

More particularly it is our object top'ro vide in such a device, a frame member having an elevating or conveyor means thereon, capable of engaging a'pile ofmaterial for elevating and. carryingit to posltion, where it will be discharged ontoa wagon or truck. Still a further object is to provide a frame, having a conveyor thereon, the'conveyor device being capablepf pivotal move-' ment on an horizontal axis andal'so capable of rotary movement on a vertical axis, whereby the conveyor device may .bemoved to various positions and held in any position,

so that the material for. a substantially great distance around th'edevice may be handled by this'device.

Still another object is to provide means whereby the entire loader device may be moved longitudinally relative to'the frame, so that as the material adjacent to the 'receiving end of the conveyor is removed, the device may be moved, so that it willalways coact with the material desired to be loaded. Still another object of our device is to provide a conveyor that will be capable of pivotal movement on a-horizontal axis. so that the angle of inclination of therconveyor device may be varied, the device being so arranged that the conveyor may be locked and held in any of its inclined positions, so

as to work substantially upon any sort of material under practically all conditions.

Still another object is to provide detachable fingers or members on the conveyor, so that the device may be used for loading manure, sandor gravel or any other such'material. i i

With these and otherobjects in: view, our invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the/various- Specification of Letters Patent. Pggtentedg ly 25 1 1920. Serial no. 397,283.

parts of ourdevice, whereby theobjects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in our claims, and'illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, iii-which: M y W I igure 1 shows a side elevationof our device. V v

-Figure 2 shows same. p t

Figure?) shows a central, sectional View taken on line 33 of Figure lp F igure 4: shows a detail View of the mechanism for varying the angle. of inclination of the conveyor, 7 p p V Figure 5 shows a detail, sectional View taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows the detachable fingers that are fixed to the conveyor device when manure is being loaded. I I

Figure 7-cshows a central, sectional View taken on line 77 ofFigure 6. i

Figure 8 shows a vertical, central, sectional View taken throughone of the shovel members when sand or gravel is loaded.

I Figure 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of our device; and V Figure 10shows a vertical, central, sectional view taken on line 1010 of Figure 9. In the accompanying drawings, we ha've used the reference character A to indicate a base or main frame, which is preferably made up of sections of pipe that are fixed together by elbows or, pipe fittings.

The main frame A is provided with two spaced parallel pipes 10, on which is mount,- .ed' the entire conveyor device. The two sides of the frame or support A are held together by cross pipes 11. Slidably mounted on the spaced parallel pipes 10 is the auxiliary frame 12. which is provided with the downwardly extending members 13. The members 13 are fixed to each side of the auxiliary frame 12 and are slightly spaced apart, so as to receive the roliersl l and 15.

The rollers 14: and 15 are rotatably mounted on the small shafts, 16, which are journaled in -the downwardlyextending members 13. The lower roller 14: has its upper surface rest against the under sideof the pipes 10.

It will be seen that from the construction of the parts just described that the auxiliary a top plan View of the frame 12 may be moved. longitudinally on the pipes 10, and at the same timewill'be held against any tendencytjo tip, by virtue of the rollers 14. The elbows at each end of the pipes 10 will act as stop devices for limiting the longitudinal movement of the auxiliary frame 12.

In order to provide for the movement of the auxiliary frame 12 we have provided the following described mechanism:

Fixed on one of the cross plpes 11 is the upwardly extending bearing member 17, which is provided with a'central opening through which is extended'the shaft 18. The shaft 18 is provided with the collars 19 and 20 on each side of thebearing member 17, so as to prevent any longitudinal movement or sliding movement of the shaft 18 relative to the bearing member 17 One of the ends of the shaft 18 is provided with a hand wheel 21, which is provided with a handle 22. The shaft 18 is also provided with the screw-threaded portion 23, which extends substantially from the collar 19 to the end of the shaft.

Extended downwardly and fixed to the auxiliary frame 12 is the car 24, which provided with a central, screw-threaded opening 25, in which is received the screwth'readed portion 23 of the shaft 18.

From the construction ofthe parts just described, it will be seen that by rotating the handwheel 21 in either direction, it will cause the shaft 18 to rotate, thus causing the auxiliary frame 12 to he slid longitudinally relative to the main frame A;

It will be understood that the auxiliary frame 12 may be moved to any desired position, which will cause the receiving end of the conveyor device to be moved closer to the pile of material, the pile becomes diminished. o

Resting on the upper surface of the auxiliary frame 12 is a conveyor frame 26, which is provided with a rearward extension 27. The conveyor frame 26 is substantially circular, as is shown iu dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, and'is provided with a flange 28. i I

The auxiliary frame 12 is provided with a similar upwardly extending rib or flange 29. v i

n order to provide for easy rotation of the device'the ball bearing races 30 are pro vided, substantially as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Extending through 'the auxiliary frame 12 and the conveyor frame 26 is the bolt 3].. which is provided with the nut 32.

It will be seen from the construction of the parts just described, that the bolt 31 is an axis around which the entire device may be rotated.

' Extending upwardly from' the sides of the conveyor frame 26 are the upright spaced bracket members 33, which are provided with registering openings near their downwardly extending annular upper ends, which receive the transverse horizontal shaft 34. Mounted on the shaft .34is the conveyor device B, which comprises the side members 85. The side members 35 are rounded at their front and rear ends substantially as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Rot-atably mounted within the side members substantially near the front or receiving end of the conveyor device is the shaft 36, which is provided with a pair of spaced sprockets 87. Fixed between the side members 35 substantially near the rear end or discharge end of the conveyor device is the shaft 88, which has one of its ends extended out through the side me1nber 35.

Substantially near the shaft 38 is a second shaft 39 upon which is mounted the spreader or cleaner device 40, the purpose of which will hereafter be more fully set forth.

The shaft 39 has one of its ends extended out through the side members 35 similar to the shaft 38.

The shaft 38 is provided with a pair of sprockets 41, which are similar to the sprockets 37-on the shaft 36. Mounted on the sprockets 37 and 41 is an endless conveyor member 42, which has the links or members 43, which coact with the notches in the sprocket wheels 41. -The conveyor device 42 consists of a series of slats 44, which are held together by any suitable links or members capable of per mitting pivotal movement or hinged move ment between each slat.

Fixed to the shaft 34 is the belt wheel 45 and also the sprocket wheel 46. The shaft 38 is also provided with a sprocket wheel 47, which is in line with the sprocket wheel 46 Ontheshaft The sprocket wheels 46 and 47 are connected by the ordinary sprocket chain 48. L

From the construction of the parts just described, it will be seen that rotation of the shaft 34 will impart rotation to the shaft 38, thus imparting rotation to the conveyor 42.

The shaft 38 is also provided with a belt wheel 48, and the shaft 39 is provided with a beltwheel 49. The belt wheels 48 and 49 of the shafts 38 and 39 respectively are connected together by the belt 50, which is turned, substantially as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, so that the shafts and 39 will. rotate in opposite directions, relative to each other.

In order tofurnish power to the loader device,-I have provided the engine 51 on the rear extension 2'7 of the conveyor frame 26. It will be understood that an ordinary electric motor or any other suitable source of power may be used for imparting rotation tothe drive wheel 45.

mass

The engine or source of power 51 is con nectedto the drive wheel 45 by means of the belt 52. p

Itwill be understood that any movement of the auxiliary frame 12 upon'the main frame A will not effect the operation or, any of the other parts of the device relative to each other, and it will be seen that all the operative parts are mounted upon'the auxiliary frame 12. order to provide means for raising and lowering the conveyor device, so that piles of materialof various heights may be engaged by the receiving end of the device, we have provided the following described mechanism:

Formed on one side of the rearward extension 27 of the frame 26 is the portion 53, which is provided with a pair of spaced, upwardly extending. lugs 54:, which are provided with registering openings, through which is extended the short shaft 55. The short shaft 55 on its outer end is provided with a handwheel 56. p v

Fixed on the shaft 55 is the gear 57, which is in mesh with the curved rack bar 58, which is fixed to one of the side members 35 of the conveyor device by means of the bolts 59. i

It will be seen that byrotating the hand wheel 56, it will cause the gear 57 to work in the rack bar 58, thus causing the entire conveyor device to move to any desired angle of inclination upon the shaft 34L In order to provide some means for locking the conveyor device against any pivotal movement on the shaft 341, we have provided the openings 60 within the rack bar 58. The openings 60 are adapted to register with an opening formed in the side of the rear extension 27. o

By placing a pin through the openings 60 at the opening formed in the rear extension 27, it will be seen that the conveyor device will be positively locked against any pivotal movement.

In order to provide means for engaging" the manure or other material, we have pro,- vided the forks or teeth 61, which are fixed in. suitable sockets 62, which are fixed to the slats 4% by means or" the bolts 63. Each of the teeth or members 61 is provided with a rear extension 6%. which is received within the socket 62. The socket 62 is provided with an openin g, which has the extension 64, the openings being designed to register with. each other, so that a wedge 65 may be forced through the registering openings for locking the members 61 against accidental displacement, although the position that the members 61 are in, will normally tend to hold them in position, even though the wedge 65 were omitted. I

When sand or gravel is desired to be conveyed, then a scoop 66 is provided, which has the rear extension 64, similar to the extensions on the teeth 61 and is received within the socket 62 and held in position by means of the wedge 65.

It will be understood that when manure or other material containing straw therein is loaded, that it will be caused to gather around the teeth 61, and'in order to clean the teeth and the conveyor, of all the material that is desired to be loaded, the cleaner device 40 is used. The cleaner device 10 is provided with teeth, which are designed to be received between the teeth 61 of the conveyor. v j i It will be understood that the cleaner device rotates in the direction opposite of the path of travel of the conveyor, so that as the material is advanced towards the upper end of the conveyor, it will be drawn out and forced downwardly by means of thecleaner device 40. This tends to form a positive discharge place upon the conveyor and cause all of the material to be uniformly discharged between the cleaner device and the upper end of the conveyor. In this way, a wagon or truck may be backed in below the upper discharge end of the conveyor and the material uniformly discharged from the conveyor device.

In Figures 9 and 10, we have shown a modified form of the device in which the engine is mounted substantially near the lower portion of the main frame A.

In order to permit the engine or other suitable source of power to be mounted on the lower portion of the frame A, and yet permit rotary and longitudinal movement of the conveyor device, we have used the following described mechanism: a I

In this form of device, we have used guide rods or tracks 67, which are fixed to the frame A substantially near its lower side. The track guides 67 are spaced vertically below the tracks 10 of the mainframe A and are provided with downwardly extending legs 68. The legs 68 serve as hearing memhers for the rollers 14 and 15. Secured to a the lower end of the legs 68 is a platform 70. The platform 70 is provided with rollers 69 which rest on the guide rods 67.

The engine 51 is mounted on the plat form 70.

In order to transmit power to the conveyor device, we have provided a vertical shaft '"1, which extends through a hollow sleeve 72. T he hollow sleeve 72 is provided with a nut 73 at its upper end and a nut 74 at its lower end. i

This will permit rotary movement of the conveyor device on the frame without interfering with the drive shaft 71.

Mounted within the upright bearing mem-- bers 33 isthe drive shaft 74 to which is fixed the beveled gear 75. g

A beveled gear 76 is mounted on the shaft of the engine 51, and is in mesh with a beveled gear 7''? on the lmver end of the shaft 7'1.

A beveled gear 7S on the upper end the shaft 71 is in mesh with the beveled gear 75 on the drive shaft M It will be seen that the operation of the engine 51 will impart rotatioi'i to the drive slut-ft 74%..

On the outer end of the shaft 7a and substantially in line with the pulley wheel h) on the shaft 54.: the pulley wheel 79. The pulley wheel 79 is connected to the pulley wheel by means of the belt 80.

By this form of our device, it will be seen that we have mounted the engine below the entire conveyor, device, yet we have so provided our device, that the conveyor may be slid longitudinally on the frame or may be rotated around a vertical axis without interfering with the driving of the conveyor device.

The hollow sleeve 72 acts as an axis upon which the conveyor device rotates, thus making the parts operate without interfering with the driving of the entire device.

Our device con'iparatively light and can be moved from place to place, the lower portion of the frame A serving as skids for drawing the entire device over the ground. in this way the device can be moved from place to place-without much labor.

In the practical operation of our device, the parts may be so arranged that various sorts of material may be loaded or the angle of inclination of the conveyor may be varied to suit the requirements of the specific work.

It will also be understood that the device may be rotated around the vertical axis. so that material for a substantially great area around the main frame may be moved without the necessity of moving the entire device from place to place. In this way, when the device is once placed in position, it may be used to clear quite an area without the movement of the entire device.

The conveyor device being pivoted on the shaft 34: makes it possible to vary the angle of inclination of the conveyor device without affecting the belt 52 or the driving mechanism of the entire conveyor.

it will be understood that this device may be successfully used for loading manure, sand, gravel, rock or any other such material. rlowever, when gravel or rock is being loaded, the cleaner device lO may be removed, as it is not needed when the device used for such material.

e claim as our invention:

1. A. loader device comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame mounted thereon, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for rotation about said vertical shaft as an axis, a conveyor member mounted in said conveyor frame, said conveyor member being so arranged that its center of gravity will at all timesbe substantially over said vertical shaft, an engine mounted on said auxiliary frame, and means for transmitting power to said conveyor member from said engine through said vertical shaft.

2. A loader device comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame mounted thereon for reciprocating movement, means for pro ducing said reciprocating movement, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for rotation about said vertical shaft as an axis, a conveyor member mounted in said conveyor frame, said conveyor member being so arranged that its center of gravity will at all times be substantially over said vertical shaft, an engine mounted on said auxiliary, and meansfor transmitting power to said conveyor member from said engine through said vertical shaft.

3. A loader device comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame mounted thereon, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for rotation about said vertical shaft as an axis, said auxiliary frame having upwardly extending supports, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in saidsupports, a conveyor member mounted on said horizontal shaft for rotation about said horizontal shaft in a vertical plane, whereby one end of said conveyor member may be lowered and the other end raised, said conveyor mem her being so arranged that its center of gravity will at all times be substantially over said vertical shaft, an engine mounted on said auxiliary frame, and means for transmitting power to said conveyor memher from said engine through said vertical shaft.

4L. A loader device comprising a main frame having vertically spaced horizontal tracks, an auxiliary frame mounted on said main frame for longitudinal movement thereon, means for producing said longitudinal movement, means whereby said auxiliary frame may be held rigidly against any tendency to tip with relation to said main frame, said means including rollers carried by said auxiliary frame and arranged to roll on the tracks thereof. said. rollers being disposed above and below said tracks, and a conveyor member mounted on the auxiliary frame.

5. A loader device comprising a main frame having vertically spaced horizontal tracks, an auxiliary frame mounted on said main frame for longitudinal movement thereon, means for producing said longitudinal movement. means whereby said auxiliary frame may be held rigidly against any tendency to tip with relation to said. main frame, sald means including rollers carried by said auxiliary frame and arranged to roll on the tracks thereof, said rollers being disposed above and below said tracks, and a conveyor member mounted on the vertical and horizontal planes.

6. A loader device comprising a main frame having vertically spaced horizontal tracks, an auxiliary frame mounted'on said main frame for longitudinal movement thereon, means for producing said longitudinal movement, means'whereby said auxiliary frame may beheld rigidly against any tendency totip' with relation to said main frame, said means including rollers carried by said auxiliary frame and arranged to roll on the tracks thereof, said rollers being disposed above and below said tracks, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in the auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for pivotal movement around said shaft as an axis and a conveyor member mounted on said conveyor frame.

7. A loader device comprising a main frame having vertically spaced horizontal tracks, an auxiliary frame mounted on said main frame for longitudinal movement thereon, means for producing said longitudinal movement, means whereby said auxiliary frame may be held rigidly against any tendency to tip with relation to said main frame,

auxiliary frame, for pivotal movement in said means including rollers carried by said auxiliary frame and arranged to roll on the tracks thereof, said rollers being disposed above and below said tracks, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in the auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for pivotal movement around said shaft as an axis, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in said conveyor frame, and a conveyor member on said horizontal shaft for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane.

8. A loader device comprising a main frame having vertically spaced horizontal tracks. an auxiliary frame mounted on said main frame for longitudinal movement thereon, means for producing said longitudinal movement, means whereby said auxiliary frame may be held rigidly against any tendency to tip with relation to said main frame, said means including rollers carried by said auxiliary frame and arranged to roll on the tracks thereof, said rollers being disposed above and below said tracks, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in the auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for pivotal movement around said shaft as an axis, a. horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in said conveyor frame, a conveyor member on said horizontal shaft for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane, and manually operated means for controlling said pivotal movement,

frame may be'held'rigidly against any fenciency to tip with relation to said main frame said means including rollers carried by said auxiliary frame and arranged to roll on the tracks thereof, said rollers being disposed above and below saidtraoks, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in the auxiliary frame, a"

conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame "for pivotal movement around said shaft as an axis, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in said conveyor frame, a conveyor member on said horizontal shaft for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane, a supporting platform suspended below the auxiliary frame, an engine thereon operativelyconnected to the vertical shaft, and means for transmitting motion from said shaft to the conveyor member.

10. A loader device comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame mounted thereon, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for pivotal movement around said vertical shaft, means whereby said conveyor frame will be held against any tendency to tip with relation to said auxiliary frame, said means including a sleeve surrounding the vertical shaft and passing through the auxiliary and conveyor frames, and lock nuts on the ends of said sleeve for holding the two frames securely together and still allow one of them to revolve freely in relation to the other, and a conveyor mounted in the conveyor frame.

11. A loader device comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame mounted thereon, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for pivotal movement around said vertical shaft, means whereby said conveyor frame will be held against any tendency to tip with relation to said auxiliary frame, said means including a sleeve surrounding the vertical shaft and passing through the auxiliary and conveyor frames, and lock nuts onthe ends of said sleeve for holding the two frames securely together and still allow one of them to re volve freely in relation to the other, and a conveyor mounted in the conveyor frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane.

12. A loader device comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame mounted thereon. a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame for pivotal movement around said vertical shaft, means whereby said conveyor frame will be held against any tendency to tip With relation to frame for longitudinal inovement said auxiliary frame, said means including a sleeve surrounding the vertical shaft and passing through the auxiliary and conveyor frames, and lock nuts on the ends of said sleeve for holding the two frames securely together and still allow one of them to revolve freely in relation to the other, a horizontal shaft mounted in said conveyor frame, and a conveyor member mounted thereon for pivotal movement in a vertical plane around said horizontal shaft as an axis.

13. A loader device comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame mounted thereon, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said auxiliary frame, a conveyor frame mounted on said auxiliary frame-for pivotal movement around said vertical shaft, means whereby said. conveyor frame will be held against any tendency to tip with relation to saidauxiliary frame, said means including a sleeve surrounding the vertical shaft and passing through the auxiliary and conveyor frames, and lock nuts on the ends of said sleeve for holding the two frames securely together and still allow one of them to revolve freely in relation to the other, a hori zontal shaft mounted in said conveyor frame, a conveyor member mounted thereon for pivotal movement in a vertical plane around said horizontal shaft as an axis, a supporting platform suspended below the auxiliary frame, an engine mounted thereon, and means operatively connecting the engine to the conveyormember through the said verti cal and horizontal shafts, whereby motion may be transmitted thereto.

Des Moines, Iowa, July 13, 1920.

LAURENS DAY POTTER. THOMAS CHARLES NOLAN. 

